Car-coupling.



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No. '743, Il O.

UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,110, dated November 3, 1903. Application filed June 1S, 1902. Serial No. 1l2,147. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. STRAUss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State vof Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to coupling devices for vehicles, such as cars and the like, and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

My invention is illustrated in theaccom panying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view of one form of coupling device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with parts omitted. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing one part of the coupling device and its position with relation to the car. Fig. 4 is a section on line t 4, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 2. e

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Coupling devicesfor railway-cars, for example, are necessarily subjected to rough usage and greatstrains, and the liability7 to injury of the coupling is very great. It has been found in practice that this liability to injury is greatly increased by the fact that it is desirable to provide an automatic coupling which will properly engage when the two' cars are moved together, thus avoiding the danger which was present when the brakeman had to manipulate the parts during' the process of coupling.

Referring now to the drawings, I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a coupling device comprising two engaging pieces A and B, mounted upon supporting-pieces C and D. The engaging pieces Aand B are provided with interlocking parts A A2 and B' B2, each of which is rigid with the engaging piece with which it is associated and is preferably integral therewith, so that there will be no movable parts associated with these interlocking parts to become deranged or injured. Stating this in another way, it may be said that the parts A and B', which prevent the parts of the coupling from being separated or which may be said to take the pulling strain when the cars are traveling forward, are each rigidwith or integral with the associated engaging device or, more specilically, rigid with or integral i gether and which are subjected to the pushing straint when -the cars are pushed instead of being pulled.

The engaging pieces A and B are mounted upon the supporting-pieces C and D in such a manner that they may be moved to permit the interlocking parts todisengage. It is of course evident that any desired connection or manner of mounting may be used for this purpose, and I have shown one simple and convenient construction. In this connection the supporting-pieces are cnt away to receive the enlarged ends A3 B3 of the engaging pieces. These engaging pieces are mounted so that they can be moved with relation to the supporting-pieces, and, as herein shown, this Objectis obtained by mounting them upon the pieces or pins or rods A4 B4.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, the interlocking parts are engaged and the enlarged ends A3 and B3 are in the spaces formed in the snpportingpieces for receiving them. When it is desired to unconple the device, one ofthe engaging partsfor example, A-is moved about the pin A4 until it takes the position shown in dotted lines in said figure. It will thus be seen that when in this position the interlocking parts are disengaged and the cars are free to separate. It is of course evident that both engaging parts may be moved to this position, if desired. Any suitable means or mechanism for moving the engaging parts to their inoperative position may be used. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated, diagrammatically, a simple and convenient, manner for this purpose, which consists of a chain or other piece E, connected to the engaging piece and located within reach of the side of the car, so that it may be manipulated without passing between the cars. It will be noted that by pulling up the chain or piece E the engaging part will b e turned up to the position shown in dotted lines and will thus be disconnected from the other engaging parts. It may be held in this position by a weight on the end of the chain E or in any other desiredor convenientway. I prefer to as sociate with each engaging piece a latch F, which holds theengaging piece in its operative position and which is actuated bythe chain E,'so as to release the engaging device from this support, so it is free to be moved to its inoperative position. It is of course evident that a lever or arm or series of levers or other apparatus may be used to vary the position of these engaging pieces.

The engaging pieces are each provided with a beveled or inclined surface A5 B5, adapted to engage opposed inclined surfaces A6 B6. When it is desired to couple the device, one of the engaging pieces is moved to its operative position and the other to its inoperative position-that is, the piece B, for example, will be in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, while the piece A will be in the position shown in dotted lines. If now the two cars are moved together, the inclined face A5 will engage the opposed face B6, and this engagement will twist the engaging piece A around, so that it takes its operative position, thus bringing the interlocking parts into engaging relation and automatically coupling the two cars together. The weight of the parts normally holds them in this position, and when the latch is used said latch insures their remaining in this position until it is desired to uncouple the cars. I have shown the engaging parts as having the outlines of the design recommended by the Master Car-Builders and now in use; but it is of course evident that this design may be varied, if desired.

The supporting-pieces C and D may be connected to the cars in any desired manner, and I have shown them as connected by means of the draw-bars G H, which are pivotally connected thereto, there being provided suitable means for bringing the parts into proper alinement-as, for example, the springs I.

It will be noted that in this construction all the parts of the engaging pieces are rigid or immovable with relation to each other and preferably integral, so that they can be made strong, durable, and reliable, there being no moving parts to get out of order. It will further be seen that none of the interlocking parts are provided with movable parts which move lengthwise or in the direction of the travel of the cars, but that the entire engaging device is movable laterally or in a direction differing from the direction of travel. It will further .be seen that I have here a simple, strong, and durable coupling which may be easily and cheaply attached to cars and which is free from the objections of the coupling devices now in use, and it will further be seen that cars equipped with this-device may be used in connection with cars equipped with the present coupler, if desired.

T he interlocking devices A B' may be shaped at their ends-as, for example, by being more or less rounded-so as to permit their being readily moved to their inoperative position.

I have described in detail one construction embodying my invention; but it is of course evident that the construction may be varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the construction shown.

It will be noted that in the process of coupling the interlocking parts A and B pass each other freely during the process of coupling and when they are in their unlocking position and that the locking movement only occurs after the passage of these parts and by the engagement of the opposed faces A5 and B6. In other words, the parts are moved toward each other until the interlocking parts are substantially in their proper position, and

then the forward movement is substantially stopped and the pieces are given a lateral movement, which brings the interlocking parts into operative position.

I claiml. A coupling device comprising two engaging pieces, each provided with an interlocking part, one of which is adapted to pass the other during the process of coupling and without operative engagement, and means for automatically 'moving one of the engaging pieces after the two interlocking parts have passed each other so as to move the interlocking parts into operative relation.

2. A coupling device comprising two engaging pieces provided with interlocking parts adapted to pass each other without operative contact, said engaging pieces eccentrically mounted on suitable supporting parts so that they may be moved to disengage the interlocking parts.

3. A coupling device comprising two engaging pieces provided with interlocking parts, said engaging pieces eccentrically mounted on suitable supporting parts so that they may be moved to disengage theiuterlocking parts, said engaging pieces provided with engaging faces which when brought into contact automatically move the engaging pieces so as to bring the interlocking parts into operative relation.

4. A coupling device comprising two engaging pieces provided with interlocking parts, each engaging piece provided with an enlarged end, a support foreach engaging piece cut away so as to receive said enlarged end and attachedto the draw-bar, and means for moving the engaging pieces so as to disengage the interlocking parts.

5. A coupling device comprising two engaging pieces each provided with interlocking parts adapted to move past each other without operative engagement, and means for moving the interlocking parts of one or both of said engaging pieces laterally so as to disengage them, and an actuating means associated with said engaging pieces for automatically moving the interlocking parts laterally into operative engaging 'position when the IOO lIO

two engaging pieces are brought together and after the interlocking parts have been moved past each other.

6. A car-coupling device comprising two engaging pieces provided with interlocking parts, preferably integral therewith, one or both of said pieces being rotatably mounted so that the relation of the interlocking parts is changed by rotating said piece or pieces, said interlocking parts making no rotary contact while passing each other, said interlocking parts when in their uncouplin'g position adapted to be moved past each other without operative engagement, and means for automatically rotating one of said parts after the interlocking parts have passed each other, so as to bring said interlocking parts into operative relation.

7. A car-coupling device comprising two engaging pieces provided with interlocking parts adapted to pass each other without operative engagement,preferably integral therewith, one or both of said pieces being eccentrically rotatably mounted so that the relation of the interlocking parts is changed by rotating said piece or pieces.

8. A car-coupling device comprising two` engaging pieces provided with interlocking parts, said pieces adapted nto be moved so that the interlocking parts are in ditterent planes and are thus free to pass each other withoutoperative engagement, means for automatically moving the pieces relatively after the interlocking parts have passed each other, so as to bring them into their interlocking position.

9. A car-coupling device comprising two .engaging pieces provided with interlocking parts adapted to pass each other without operative engagement during the process of coupling, said engaging pieces adapted to be rocked or rotated so as to move the interlocking parts to an inoperative position, an engaging face on one of said pieces adapted to be engaged by a corresponding face on the opposed piece after the interlocking parts have passed each other in the process of coupling to move the pieces relatively so as to bring the operative parts into operative position.

10. A car-coupling device comprising two engaging pieces adapted to be rocked or rotated, an interlocking part on each of said pieces, said interlocking parts adapted to pass each other freely without being moved out of alinement when in their unlocking position, and means for automatically moving said pieces relatively after the interlocking parts have passed each other, so as to bring them into their interlocking position.

ll. A car-coupling device comprising two engaging pieces adapted to be given a lateral movement, an interlocking part on each of said pieces adapted to pass each other freely and without lat-eral movement during the coupling process, and means for moving the pieces laterally after the interlocking parts have passed each other so as to bring said interlocking parts into operative position.

12. A car-coupling device, comprising two engaging pieces adapted to be rotated, an interlocking part on each of said pieces, said interlocking parts adapted to pass each other when in theirnnlocking position, and means for automatically rotating one of said pieces after the interlocking parts have passed each other, so as to bring them into theirinterlocking position.

13. A coupling device, comprising two engaging pieces, provided with interlocking parts adapted to pass each other without operative contact during the process of coupling, and an engaging part associated with one of the engaging pieces and back of the interlocking parts thereon, adapted to be engaged by the other when the interlocking parts have passed and automatically move the parts relatively, so that they are brought into their interlocking position.

14E. A car-coupling device, comprising two engaging pieces, provided with interlocking parts adapted to pass eaclr other without operative contact during the process of coupling, a parton one of said engaging pieces projecting into the path of -the other and acting as a stop to limit the forward movement, the engagement between said piece and projecting part causing the interlocking parts to move to their interlocking position after they have passed each other.

. JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

Witnesses:

HOMER L. KRAFT, FANNY B. FAY. 

